Under £200

Celebrate St Patrick's Day in Cork with three nights at three star Ambassador Hotel overlooking Cork Harbour from 15 to 18 March for £199. This includes breakfast and car crossing with up to four passengers (Pembroke/Rosslare or Holyhead/Dublin). Contact Travelscene Ireland (0151 231 1480).

Set among apple orchards in Normandy, the 300-year-old Auberge du Val au Cesne offers two nights half-board, including return Dover-Calais crossings for car and two passengers, for £145, departing 15 March. To book call Inntravel Shortbreaks (01653 629001).

A jolly activity weekend in Somerset with Alpine Summers (07050 244968) from 3 to 5 May. Two nights B&B at The George public house in Frome including welcome evening and drinks, organised cycling on Saturday, canoeing on Sunday and insurance all for £119. Optional bike hire £10/single supplement £20.

Enjoy turreted luxury on the eve of Mother's Day at Lumley Castle, near Durham. Room, champagne, chocolates and dinner for two for £165. Reservations (0191 389 1111).

Under £300

Save £80 per person on three nights in the temperate winter climate of Lisbon with Travellers' Cities (01959 540700) throughout March. A stay at the central three-star Eduardo VII Hotel, including breakfast and BA flights from Heathrow, now costs £269.

Try a short break in New York with Travelbag (0870 890 1459) for £299 which includes flights with American Airlines and three nights' room-only accommodation at the Milford Plaza in Times Square. Valid for midweek departures until 19 March.

An excuse for a London shopping spree is offered by the Chesterfield Hotel in Mayfair. One night's deluxe room for two people sharing, including continental breakfast, an aromatherapy kit and £50 Harrods shopping voucher is £222.20, valid until 1 April. Reservations (020 7491 2622).

Under £400

Hurry, hurry. For a very last minute ski bargain Inghams (020 8780 4433) have seven nights skiing in Finnish Lapland departing 10 March from £399 including half board and direct charter flights from Manchester. The accommodation will be allocated on arrival in minimum three star hotels. You can also experience a reindeer, husky or snowmobile safari and catch the atmospheric Northern Lights.

Cruise the Mediterranean for £399 including charter flights Gatwick to Majorca and seven nights full board on the ship. Itinery includes Tunisia, Italy, France and Spain. Sole departure is 23 April and the price is based on two adults sharing a twin inside cabin. This is an Island Cruises holiday bookable through Virgin Travelstore (08700 66 55 22).

Novelty is a cave house in Andalucia offered by Mundi Color (020 7828 6021). Rising up from the sandstone hillsides into the plains below the Sierra Nevada the cave interiors are immaculate and attractively furnished with all mod cons. Three nights B&B is from £304 for departures between 3 April and 3 May, with Iberia flights from Heathrow and car hire.

Under £500

Kuoni (01306 744173) has a special offer, saving £136 per couple, on trips to Sri Lanka. Six nights' B&B at the three-star Riverina Hotel, located on Beruwela Beach on the south west coast, is from £499, including return flights with Sri Lankan airlines and transfers. There are daily departures from Heathrow between 9 March and 24 June.

Under £600

The American ski resort of Breckenridge in Colorado is down by £110 to £529 for seven nights and by £136 to £785 for ll nights with Iglu (020 8544 6420) departing 6 April. Catered accommodation is in the Chalet Roaring Fork. Scheduled flights from Heathrow and transfers are included.

Under £1,600

A 13-night tour of Japan, visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Miyajima and the southern island of Kyushu, timed to coincide with the flowering cherry blossom, sets off on 29 March. The tour costs £1,595, excluding air fares - currently about £700 - but including accommodation and internal travel. Parties are escorted throughout by a Japanese-speaking guide. Contact The Oriental Caravan (020 7582 0716) for details.

· Prices are per person and all travel is return.